A recent public outburst from former President Donald Trump, criticizing Israel’s President Isaac Herzog for not pardoning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his lengthy corruption trial, has undeniably struck a sensitive chord in Israel.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, Mr. Trump didn’t hold back, labeling President Herzog “disgraceful.” He went on to suggest that “the people of Israel should really shame him” for failing to grant Mr. Netanyahu clemency.
This bold intrusion into Israel’s domestic legal processes, delivered with such a provocative tone, quickly escalated into a rare and public disagreement between two allied nations. The honor of the Israeli president, a largely symbolic role, was openly challenged. This affront led to strong pushback from several high-ranking Israeli officials, including President Herzog himself, although some staunch supporters of Mr. Netanyahu surprisingly sided with Mr. Trump’s stance.
President Herzog’s office swiftly responded on Thursday night, clarifying that a decision on the pardon request had not yet been made and was still undergoing review by the Ministry of Justice. The statement emphasized that “only upon completion of that process will President Herzog consider the request in accordance with the law, the best interests of the State of Israel, guided by his conscience, and without any influence from external or internal pressures of any kind.”
While acknowledging Mr. Trump’s “significant contribution” to Israel’s security, the statement from Herzog’s office subtly but firmly asserted, “Israel is a sovereign state governed by the rule of law.” Even Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations and a former minister in Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud party, expressed his respect for Mr. Trump but suggested on Army Radio that Mr. Trump “should have said it in a different way.”
The timing of Mr. Trump’s comments, coming just a day after his discussions with Mr. Netanyahu at the White House, immediately sparked speculation in Israel that the prime minister might have orchestrated the public demand. However, Mr. Netanyahu’s aides quickly dismissed these rumors on Saturday evening, stating, “The prime minister heard about it from the media and did not know about it in advance.”
Mr. Netanyahu has been embroiled in a corruption trial for five years, facing charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. These accusations stem from three intertwined cases, alleging that he traded political favors for gifts and favorable media coverage for himself and his family. The prime minister vehemently denies all charges, claiming he is the target of a politically motivated “witch hunt” by a liberal “deep state.”
The ongoing trial has created deep divisions within Israel, and Mr. Trump has consistently inserted himself into the controversy, frequently urging President Herzog to grant Mr. Netanyahu a pardon. During an October visit to Israel, Mr. Trump even publicly implored Mr. Herzog during a speech to the Israeli Parliament, asking, “Mr. President, why don’t you give him a pardon?” A month later, he followed up with a written letter to the Israeli president, reiterating his request for a full pardon for Mr. Netanyahu.
In late November, just two weeks after that letter, Mr. Netanyahu formally submitted a pre-emptive pardon request, a move President Herzog described as “extraordinary.” Critics argued that granting such a pardon while the trial was still underway would undermine a fundamental pillar of Israeli democracy: the principle of equality before the law.
On Thursday, Mr. Trump mistakenly claimed that Mr. Herzog had already refused the pardon. “He said he’s given it five different times, but he doesn’t want to do it because, I guess he loses his power,” Mr. Trump declared, adding, “He’s disgraceful for not giving it. He should be ashamed of himself.” Unsurprisingly, Miri Regev, an Israeli government minister and staunch Netanyahu loyalist, echoed Mr. Trump’s sentiment, stating in radio interviews that the trial should have been halted and lamenting Mr. Trump’s need to repeatedly press Mr. Herzog on the matter.